Obituary

John G. Grenz

John G. "Custer" Grenz, 83, Napoleon, died August. 3, 2000 in Wishek hospital.  Services will be held at 11am.  Monday at Salem United Methodist Church, Napoleon, with the Rev. Ronn Wilke officiating. Burial will be in Napoleon Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2-8 P.M. Saturday and 1-8 P.M. Sunday at Dahlstrom Funeral Home, Napoleon, and will continue t the church one hour before services.

Custer was born May 29, 1917, on the family farm in Campbell county, near Artas, SD, the son of Gottlieb and Christina (Wentz) Grenz. Custer was 9 yrs. old when the family moved to Napoleon, where he grew up.  Custer attended and graduated from Napoleon High School and went on to attend Valley City State Teachers College, graduating in 1941.

Custer married Irene Wittmier on July 26, 1942, at Napoleon.  They purchased and moved to a homestead farm in the Streeter Flat area in 1943.  In 1954, they moved to Napoleon, where they operated a restaurant, Irene's Cafe, and he became known as a "sidewalk" farmer.  Custer continued to farm until he retired at the age of 65.  Since 1978 they have made their winter home in Mesa, AZ.

Custer was active in city affairs serving on the Napoleon City Council for several yrs.  He was selected as a Napoleon High School Alumni of the Year recipient in 1996.

He wrote articles for the Napoleon Homestead under the byline "Findings" by John G. Custer Grenz.

He was an avid antique collector over the years attending most auctions in the tri-state area.  He had a special interest in threshing machines and his collection graced the hills three miles east of Napoleon for many years, and they were featured in the March 1986 issue of National Geographic Magazine and Dakota Day Trips.  Custer still owned the first tractor that he purchased, which was a 1943 model John Deere "B".

He was an avid sports athlete and fan, having participated in both basketball and track.  He was proud of the fact that his son and grandson also played basketball for Napoleon High School.

Survivors include his wife, Irene Grenz, Napoleon; two sons Andon daughter-in-law, Harley and Gloria Grenz, Napoleon, and Steve Grenz, Cheyenne, WY; one daughter and son-in-law, Karen and James Strand, Bismarck; nine grandchildren, Mike Grenz, Candice Nelson, Cindy Steiner, Kelly Grenz, Ashley Grenz, Kayla Grenz, Ryan and Krista Strand and Jessica McLella; three great-grandchildren, Christopher, Cody Grenz; one brother and sister-in-law Willie and Lorene Grenz, Mesa; two sister-in-laws, Evelyn Grenz, Lehr, and Marie Grenz, St. Paul, MN; Two brothers-in-law, Harley Kiesz, Lodi, CA, and Erv Meyer, Denver, CO.

He was preceded in death by one son, Gene Grenz, in 1962; his parents; two brothers, Eugene and Albert; and three sisters, Ida Kiesz, Christine Hoen and Elsie Meyer.

Notes:  Acquired Diabetes